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    How to make a deposit in a foreign bank site site

    How to protect money and choose reliable “hands” to keep it? Deposits in foreign banks are an opportunity to solve a complex problem. The issue of the safety of savings worries everyone who happened to live in an era of change, and many prefer to entrust funds to external structures. The stability of the economic and social situation, well-established and reliable financial systems of developed countries, large-scale provision of well-known banks are certainly attractive.

    However, it should be understood that in light of the trend towards increased transparency of international transactions, foreign institutions put forward strict requirements for potential partners. This is facilitated by the tightening of tax legislation at the national level and the activities of global organizations - FATF, OECD. They "put pressure" on the banks, and those, in turn, on the clientele.

    What do foreign banks offer?

    The legislation of the Russian Federation does not restrict citizens of the country - they can make deposits outside of Russia, which opens up opportunities for diversifying assets. By keeping money in depositories, it is possible to ensure their protection from social and financial "cataclysms", but by no means from the attention of regulatory authorities. There are states that ensure the confidentiality of deposits - Liechtenstein, Austria, partly Switzerland - but in most countries that do not want to be included in international "black lists", information is open, and banks are actively cooperating with the global community.

    Despite this, Russian residents are actively interested in institutions in Europe, the Caribbean, Singapore and the United States. The first question that should be of interest to a potential client is not how to make a deposit in a foreign bank, but how to choose a partner structure. The profitability of the transaction and the security of funds depend on the correctness of the decision. The offers are very diverse, for example:

    • the minimum deposit is the lowest in the Baltics and Cyprus;
    • Switzerland attracts with a high degree of security of money;
    • Luxembourg is known for its loyal attitude towards potential clients.

    It must be said that deposits from foreign banks cannot be called publicly available. Structures scrutinize applicants, negotiate for a long time, demand from those wishing to open a deposit to present a voluminous package of documentation on the reliability of the person and the origin of funds.

    Residence permit holders have priority - for example, in Britain, they are unlikely to cooperate with a non-resident without the status of a permanent resident of the country. Also, banks are more willing to work with the personnel of local companies and businessmen who are constantly doing business with foreign partners. The rest of the citizens will have to be patient.

    Financial question

    The financial side of the issue is also contradictory. In addition to the high entry threshold, which cuts off people who cannot deposit from 10 thousand euros to a loyal Baltic bank or 200-250 thousand dollars to a reputable Swiss institution, you need to consider:

    • expenses for registration of a deposit;
    • service charge - on average, USD 500-2000 per year;
    • the cost of carrying out payment transactions (if such an opportunity is expected) - up to $ 100;
    • conversion costs and so on.

    At the same time, interest on deposits in Western banks is not very high. Interested parties can choose - confidential deposits in Swiss, Austrian banks with 3% per annum, secure storage in America or Norway with 4%, favorable proposals from Cyprus (up to 6%) or the Baltic states (up to 8%). The conditions of subsidiaries of domestic structures are not much more favorable. In addition, interest on deposits in foreign banks is not the final figure that can be used for calculations: each state has its own, sometimes complex, deposit insurance system.

    Hence the conclusion - making deposits in the West is not worthwhile for the purpose of increasing funds, but, rather, for their secure storage, convenience of operations, if serious expenses are coming (buying real estate, training). Also, considering the question of how to make a deposit in a foreign bank, you need to consider:

    • foreign banks opened in the Russian Federation are officially not foreign, but Russian;
    • serious banks practically do not work with cash and, in any case, will require large-scale confirmation of their origin;
    • after opening a deposit, no later than a month later, you must notify the Russian tax authorities.

    Cooperation procedure with foreign banks

    If obstacles do not stop the depositor, you can start negotiations with the selected bank. Each client is checked by foreign institutions for reliability, and the sources of his funds are checked for legal origin. The documentation package may include certificates that a domestic bank would hardly have requested. These are favorable reviews of partners and credit structures with which the person cooperates, utility bills for real estate, a detailed description of the business, and so on. Among the basic documents that all banks require are:

    • depositor's questionnaire;
    • certificates about the composition of the family and the absence of a criminal record, problems with the law;
    • identification documents - certified copies of national and foreign passports of depositors (sometimes for their spouses);
    • certificates of income for several months or even years, certified by the tax authorities.

    The documents are carefully examined, the client may be asked to meet with a bank representative several times for an interview, and if (most importantly) the legality of the funds is not suspicious, the applicant receives an offer to sign an agreement. There are several ways to go through the laborious and time-consuming and nerve-racking procedure:

    • Firstly, you can take a risk and do everything yourself - understand the peculiarities of banking, tax and insurance legislation, maintain paper and electronic correspondence, prepare documents and certify them. You also need to take into account the additional costs of traveling to the selected country - after all, the contract will most likely have to be signed there.
    • You can reduce the hassle by choosing banks that have a visit service or an official representative office. The first option is more likely to be suitable for very wealthy candidates who are ready to entrust a partner structure from 800-1000 thousand euros - an officer will come to them specially. There are banks that regularly send employees on business trips to the capital or large cities, and it is possible to arrange a meeting with them without such significant investments. Officials often assist applicants in the preparation and submission of documentation, but they themselves do not deal with them.
    • If you are not sure of your readiness to meet with banks "face to face", you should entrust the work to consultants who are professionally engaged in the selection of partner structures and have established strong ties with them. They will take over the preparatory negotiation process, help you find a guarantor and minimize the risk of refusal.

    The company "Prifinance" is ready to simplify the process of collecting documents for customers, present it at meetings with bank representatives and do everything to make the procedure successful, legal and fast.

    Since 2003, citizens of the Russian Federation can open their own deposits in a foreign banking organization. The reason for the attention to accounts in Western companies is not so much the receipt of income from the deposit, but the ability to diversify your funds to increase the reliability of their storage.

    The nuances of registration and maintenance

    Dear Readers! The article talks about typical ways of solving legal issues, but each case is individual. If you want to know how solve your problem- contact a consultant:

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    The process of opening a deposit in a Western bank is very complicated by various checks and can take more than one month.

    The following documents are required for the procedure:

    • questionnaire;
    • certificate of 3-NDFL for the past 3-5 years(must be certified by the tax authorities);
    • recommendations from the place of work;
    • a certificate from the bank you are currently a client of;
    • copies of foreign and civil passports, which are certified by a notary (in some cases, these documents are required from the spouse);
    • certificate of family composition;
    • a certificate from law enforcement agencies confirming the absence of problems with them;
    • a certificate from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, if the value of your investments is not more than 10 thousand dollars(if the amount of the deposit exceeds this figure, the verification is carried out by Interpol and FATF).

    This is just a basic list of required documents. The provision of additional data depends on the selected bank. It should also be taken into account that all provided documentation must be translated and certified by a notary.

    After checking the client's source of income, in the absence of any claims, the bank offers to submit an application and sign an agreement

    This can be done in the following ways:

    Remotely Certified documents can be sent by mail, fax or scanned by e-mail. But in order to sign the final agreement, the personal presence of a citizen is necessary.
    Through subsidiaries of foreign banks in the Russian Federation They can help with the drafting and preparation of the necessary documents.
    Through Private banking
    • For users of this system, a list of services is provided that ensure the resolution of organizational issues in the process of opening an account in foreign organizations.
    • But to sign the agreement, you will still need to meet with a bank representative or personally appear at the chosen financial institution. This function is available only for people who can place more than 1 million dollars.
    With the help of consulting companies There are firms that specialize in opening a deposit for Russian citizens abroad. With their help, you can choose the best option for a country, a bank, as well as favorable account conditions. Their services are estimated at about 5 thousand euros- depending on the company.

    For wealthy owners of a deposit, an appointment is made with an employee of a banking organization who comes to Russia for this.

    The process of opening an account in a foreign banking organization cannot be called simple. Therefore, it is worthwhile to prepare in advance financially and psychologically for the required procedures.

    Important details

    It is worth remembering that after the approval of your application for opening a bank account, you must notify the tax office of the country within 30 days.

    According to Russian law, if you have not complied with this, then in addition to a fine of 5 thousand rubles will be subject to severe sanctions. Because of this, Russian banks will be prohibited from transferring funds to your foreign account.

    To be exempted from double taxation, an agreement between the countries is required. If it exists, then you can pay taxes on the deposit once. If not, then you will have to deduct both to the budget of Russia and to the budget of a foreign state.

    Many citizens of the country believe that there are full-fledged representative offices of foreign banks on the territory of the Russian Federation.

    In fact, foreign financial organizations cannot carry out their activities on the territory of the Russian Federation. This erroneous statement is due to the ongoing marketing policy of domestic bankers.

    Banks with the same name are essentially only subsidiaries. They do not provide sufficient reliability compared to the parent company. "Daughters" can help with the preparation of documents and positive feedback, which can play a decisive role in the decision of the "mother".

    For many banks in Europe and America, the minimum deposit amount for foreign depositors is 50 thousand dollars or euros... With a smaller amount, they won't even contact you. In this case, it is worth considering the Baltic and offshore financial institutions, which may not have a threshold at all.

    If there is a need to open a deposit in a foreign bank, then you need to carefully prepare for this process, having studied all the subtleties and pitfalls of the procedure.

    Conditions

    It is advisable to open deposits in a foreign bank rather to save money than to increase them.

    This choice is due to low rates on deposits. For example, in domestic banking organizations, high rates can equal 8% per annum on accounts in foreign currency. Whereas in most foreign financial institutions no higher 4-5% .

    A number of large banks set a reduced rate for foreign clients. In the west, there are indexed deposits, which have a high percentage. They are about investing a certain amount of securities.

    Often, the commission for withdrawing cash, converting funds into another currency, transferring to another account completely cancels out the deposit interest. Therefore, the benefit from a contribution whose value is not greater than 50 thousand dollars, practically zero.

    As for deposit insurance, such a system in the EU states is almost completely consistent with the domestic one. But for each country, the sum insured and the procedure for payment are determined separately.

    TOP 10 best options

    The proposals of various countries on deposits look like this:

    Country (bank) Interest rate (currency) The volume of guarantees on deposits
    Cyprus (Bank of Cyprus, Cyprus Popular Bank Ltd) 4,5% (dol) 90% , but not more 20 thousand euros
    Latvia (Citadele) 3% (dol) 100% , but not more 9 thousand lats
    USA (Edvard and Jones Vanguard Croup) 2,96% (dol) 100% , but not more 100 thousand dollars
    United Kingdom (Bank of London and the Middle East) 2,8% (pound sterling) 100% if the deposit amount is up to 2 thousand pounds sterling. 90% if the sum from 2 to 33 thousand.
    Italy (ING Direct Italia) 1,4% (Euro) 100% , but not more 103 thousand euros
    Belgium (ING Belgium) 1,25% (Euro) 100% , but not more 20 thousand euros
    Germany (ING DiBa) 1% (Euro)
    • in state banks - 100% ;
    • compulsory insurance 0 90% , but not more 20 thousand euros;
    • add. guarantee - up to 30% the bank's own capital.
    Sweden (Nordea) 1% (Swedish kronor) 100% , but not more 250 thousand SEK
    Netherlands (ABN AMRO) 1% (Euro) 100% , but not more 20 thousand euros
    Switzerland (Postfinance) 0,15% (Swiss francs) 100% , but not more 30 thousand Swiss francs

    General maintenance notes

    Is there a benefit

    Only a person with a high level of income can benefit from opening an account in a foreign bank.

    Firstly, this is due to the policy of foreign financial institutions, which sets the minimum threshold for the opportunity to open a deposit. Secondly, the annual interest rate on deposits is significantly lower than in domestic institutions.

    Therefore contributions from 10 thousand dollars will simply be unprofitable. The optimal amount is with 500 thousand dollars.

    Separately, we can single out people who, due to circumstances, are forced to live abroad for a long time. In this case, foreign contributions are vital for them.

    When they are needed

    The question of preserving their funds for the population of the Russian Federation in 2020-2015 arose sharply, when unrest began in the economy in connection with the situation in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions.

    Most of the country's residents tried to withdraw the accumulated funds and place them “under the mattress”. The other transferred money from small banks to larger ones. Many decided to exchange rubles for currency or even invest in real estate.

    But in the topic under consideration, we are interested in the situation with investments in foreign organizations. And it is true that during this period a significant part of citizens decided to open deposits in foreign banks. Such actions allow avoiding some of the consequences of the economic collapse of the Russian market.

    In addition, a bank account abroad can be useful for paying for transactions that are not carried out on the territory of the Russian Federation. In particular, it is possible to highlight the spending of money on education, accommodation, purchase of goods or services.

    Risks and challenges

    When choosing a foreign bank and opening a deposit in it, you may be haunted by certain risks that must be taken into account in order to preserve your capital and not get into an unpleasant situation:

    • When using consulting firms, it is worth knowing that they may be interested in the recommendations of a particular foreign bank. In this case, their advice is not aimed at your well-being. Therefore, it is best to contact an independent financial advisor with a proven track record.
    • Pay attention to the deposit insurance system. It is different in each country and the working conditions are different.
    • It should be borne in mind that the interest rate can change over time, especially if your deposit was issued for a long time.
    • Country policy in international relations. Taking the example of Cyprus in 2013 and Russia in 2020, one can understand that much depends on the position of the state in relation to the actions of the world countries. Even the speeches of politicians can harm the economic system.

    Possible operations with deposits abroad

    Deposits abroad and possible actions with them are regulated by the federal law “On currency regulation and currency control”.

    This regulation establishes restrictions for individuals on the use of their accounts in foreign banks on the principle “everything that is not expressly permitted is prohibited”.

    In particular, two categories are envisaged: crediting funds to foreign accounts and spending them. The document outlines in detail the conditions for performing these operations.

    Advantages and disadvantages

    pros Deposits in foreign banks for the population of the Russian Federation are not uncommon.

    Individuals and legal entities can open an account abroad. This is required for the full functioning of a foreign company or for monetary settlements of residents and non-residents. For a Russian, as well as for other foreign citizens, there are special conditions on how to open a bank account in another country.

    Choosing a reliable foreign bank abroad

    The European banking system has been stable over the years. Holders are attracted by the guarantee of financial stability from the state and the European Union. You can open an account in Europe in one of the following countries:

    Country selection is based on individual needs. For example, if an urgent opening is required without a visit to the bank (i.e. remotely), then the services of Latvian banks will do. For those who value confidentiality - Liechtenstein, and for cheap fares to Poland or the Czech Republic.

    In addition to European options, others are available:

    • Payment systems - opening period 2-6 days

    It is worth seeking services in some jurisdictions because of the advantages:

    Services are available for individuals and companies. Corporate accounts are often opened offshore. This option has a tax advantage. Some organizations offer services under High risk

    How to open an offshore account remotely

    Remotely means without a visit to the country where the bank is located. This is possible in two cases:

      The bank has a representative office in Moscow or in your city;

    Despite the fact that you have to visit one of the offices - our company or a bank branch, this method is remote. This is so, because in the end you complete all the documents without going abroad.

    Unfortunately, this service is not available in all organizations and not in all countries. Even less common is the ability to conduct transactions entirely online. Our staff will advise you on current opportunities.

    Required documents for individuals

    A number of factors affect the package of documents for individuals:

      Country where the bank is located;

      Account type for a foreigner;

    Everything you need is registered on a person who will subsequently be able to manage the account and will have the right to sign. This rule also applies if an account is opened for a non-resident.

    An individual will need an internal and foreign passport to open an account abroad. Financial institutions sometimes put forward additional requirements, so always check the current list before opening.

    Citizens of Russia, like other countries, have two possibilities: to arrange everything on their own or to seek qualified support. When preparing a package of documents on your own, problems arise. And delay is one of them.

    On average, after all the papers have been processed and received by the bank, it takes about 7 working days to open. The more time you spend before, the longer the processes will take. Please contact our company. We will not only speed up the process, but also allow you to avoid annoying problems. More details about our company:


    There is an additional service: urgent opening of an offshore account. In this case, the review takes up to four days. If you combine the service and the bank, which immediately provides the details, then all the processes will take about 1 week.

    Features for non-residents and legal entities

    Conveniently, access is carried out remotely using Internet banking or a mobile application.

    Do you need to make a deposit, what should be taken into account when choosing a foreign bank and drawing up documents, what laws should be read before investing money abroad - we have collected fresh information for you and put it on the shelves.

    Why is the foreign contribution interesting?

    There are two standard goals: to preserve and increase capital. However, in fact, it is more about the safety of funds than about potential income. Deposits abroad are not always an investment. But a deposit account makes it possible to diversify your investment portfolio by investing money in different national currencies or precious metals.

    Who is interested in?

    Those who are ready to immediately invest a large enough amount. Low interest rates plus expensive service rates are more suitable for those who have at least 50 thousand euros for this.

    Advantages of foreign banks for opening deposits

    • Trust in the foreign banking system.
    • High sums insured (in the EU - up to 100 thousand euros).

    Deposits abroad: basic

    • Low interest rates (on average in the EU 1-2%, sometimes up to 5).
    • Strict conditions for early termination of the contract.
    • High threshold for the initial deposit amount (from 10 thousand euros).

    How to choose a foreign bank

    Remember: when choosing a bank, you choose a country. Pay attention to:

    • stability of the national currency,
    • stability of the financial system of the state,
    • on the reputation of the regulator,
    • the reputation of the state itself in the world geopolitical arena.

    For example, until recently, the most "tasty" for Russians were deposits in banks in Cyprus and the Baltic countries. They offered favorable interest rates (up to 5%), were loyal to non-residents from the CIS, and offered service in Russian. However, these countries, including their banking sector, are subject to general trends. Financial institutions are easily deprived of licenses, get rid of Russian money, and the attitude towards non-residents is aggravated. It is easy to see that the more stable the state, the lower the percentage, the higher the tariffs and the stricter the rules. Therefore, the client, in fact, has a choice: cheaper and more risky or more expensive and more reliable. The choice is yours!

    What is "deposit insurance"?

    The minimum amount that the bank is obliged to return to the client upon closure (bankruptcy, reorganization). So, for the European Union, the insured deposit is 100 thousand euros. The depositors of any European bank will receive back at least 100 thousand euros if it ceases to operate. The central bank of each EU member is the guarantor.

    What else is worth considering?

    • % rate,
    • irreducible balance,
    • insured amount,
    • commissions / tariffs,
    • list of documents,
    • terms of termination.

    What are the requirements for non-residents

    Non-resident to non-resident strife. For representatives of the CIS countries, in particular, for Russians, the list of requirements is higher than for others. To open a deposit account abroad, you must go through the compliance procedure for compliance with the AML policy (anti-money laundering). To do this, you will need:

    • Explain the origin of the funds. They must be legally acquired, and this fact must be transparent.
    • Collect a complete package of documents that meets all the requirements. Once again: it is better to clarify in advance not only the list of papers, but also the requirements for them. Forms / samples of documents differ from country to country; a foreign bank may not be satisfied with a chaotic extract from Russian institutions.
    • You must not be blacklisted, and your activities must be completely legal.
    • Your connection with the bank's country of residence will be a plus.

    Is it profitable?

    If you expect to make money on a deposit, then it is not a fact. Before deciding to invest, compare the following numbers:

    • bank tariffs (for opening, maintenance, account replenishment, etc.), including conversion fees (as well as exchange rates),
    • potential interest rate gain.

    Personal presence will most likely be required, so consider travel expenses as well.

    Think in advance about how you will deposit money. International transfers involve high fees, and cash will have to be declared when crossing the border.

    Do not forget to inform the Federal Tax Service!

    Tax residents of Russia are obliged to notify the tax service about opening an account abroad, as well as to report on the movement of funds.

    Are income from foreign deposits subject to Russian taxes?

    Yes. You are owed personal income tax at a rate of 13%.

    Can everyone open a deposit abroad?

    No. For example, under Russian law, persons holding public office cannot keep money abroad.

    What other information might help?

    • Federal Law N79-FZ "On the State Civil Service of the Russian Federation". Here is about who cannot place a deposit in foreign banks.
    • Federal Law N173-FZ "On Currency Regulation and Currency Control". Here are all the details about currency accounts.
    • Tax Code, article 83 - here about how you must notify the control authorities about the opening of a foreign deposit.

    When studying other sources, look at the date of publication of the text. The banking sector is very sensitive, the market situation can change rapidly. The Internet is full of articles where it is recommended to invest in a foreign bank that has long been closed. Use only up-to-date information!

    Russian legislation does not prohibit Russian citizens from opening accounts and deposits in foreign banks, although this was not always the case. In the West, private investors are attracted not so much by savings conditions for investments abroad, as by the opportunity to diversify their funds by placing them in depositories with different levels of reliability. In this sense, Swiss banks have certainly always been leaders in the safe storage of money and banking secrecy. Although, according to statistics, Russians are no less interested in other European financial institutions, for example, in Cyprus and even in the Baltic countries.

    Who needs a bank deposit abroad?

    The reason for focusing on foreign accounts is not only following the adage “don't keep your eggs in one basket”. A lot of our fellow citizens do business with foreign partners, buy real estate abroad, send their children to study in educational institutions, and they themselves often visit different countries. It is quite natural that it is convenient for such people to keep part of their savings in foreign bank accounts.

    We will not compare the degree of reliability of foreign investments. It is even more difficult to do this in our time of a series of economic crises affecting the entire world economy and even financial conglomerates with a long and impeccable history. We propose only to consider the question of how a Russian citizen can open a bank deposit abroad and how profitable it is.

    It turns out that this process is not so simple. The easiest way is to open a foreign deposit to a person who has a residence permit in the country where the chosen bank is located, especially if the person works for a foreign company. There are no problems with bank accounts for students studying in the West. Banks make decisions much faster on applications from businessmen conducting open and legal business with Western partners. But for other Russians trying to conclude an agreement with a bank abroad, the procedure is often delayed for a long time. Some of them find it strange not only a long check of documents, but also the very set of necessary papers.

    Features of opening a foreign deposit

    Note that each country with a developed economy has its own “anti-money laundering” law, which prevents the legalization of proceeds from crime. And the point is not even that citizens from Russia, with its high corruption component and shadow economy, are treated more suspiciously than any other European. It's just that the bank must check each of its new clients for reliability, and its source of income for legality. A serious lending institution must be confident in the "purity" of any money that goes to their accounts. In this sense, it is much more difficult to verify a Russian and the source of origin of his funds than a Westerner. Moreover, a fairly high threshold for the first deposit in a self-respecting bank weeds out citizens with low and even average earnings in Russia. Most Russians who want to open a deposit in the West are people with high and very high incomes. Few of them are ordinary employees with a "transparent" salary.

    Therefore, in addition to the application and the depositor's questionnaire, the package of documents for opening an account abroad sometimes includes quite exotic certificates that no one requires in our banks in order to conclude a simple deposit agreement. Of these, a certificate of income of an individual over the past few years, certified by the tax office, seems to be the simplest. Of the necessary, we list notarized copies of domestic and foreign passports, sometimes not only of the depositor, but also of his spouse. They may also require information about the absence of problems with the police, the composition of the family. In confirmation of residence at the specified address, it is sometimes asked to attach an invoice for payment for utilities, issued in the name of the depositor.

    In the process of collecting the necessary papers, the principle is traced - the higher the amount of the deposit, the more documents a serious bank asks for. Moreover, if the savings exceed the par value of 100 thousand US dollars. You can try to explain the origin of the smaller amounts in simple writing. If the potential client is a businessman, then you need more information about the business and the legal origin of the funds. Recommendations from Western business partners or other clients of the same bank are welcome. It is good to have a bank account in the Russian subsidiary of a well-known foreign bank, whose favorable review can have a positive effect on the image of a citizen.

    As you can imagine, it is impossible to quickly check such a number of documents. Therefore, the procedure is sometimes delayed for several weeks. Although, for example, Cypriot financial institutions and their offshore counterparts are easier to collect information. An employee of one of the consulting companies claims that if the verification has dragged on for more than a month and a potential investor is asked more and more supporting documents, then one should not hope that the process will end with a positive decision. It is not customary for Western banks to directly refuse an applicant. Rather, the person himself will refuse to continue further meaningless correspondence. This is how very often an attempt to open a deposit with major Russian officials and his close relatives, who are considered foreign public figures with a high degree of probability that they are close to corruption, ends.

    How to open a deposit abroad?

    But if the source of income of a foreigner does not cause suspicion and can be quite simply confirmed and verified, then expectations will eventually end with an offer to sign a bank account agreement with the bank. There are several ways to apply for a deposit abroad and sign an agreement for a Russian citizen in the future.

    Firstly, independently and remotely from Russia. This method is not always the cheapest and not the fact that it is the fastest and easiest. Because not every person is able to understand the peculiarities of the legislation of a foreign country and the requirements of a foreign institution. Although any bank is quite willing to enter into correspondence, both fax and electronic. Correctly certified documents can be sent by mail, some of them can be sent by fax or scanned online. But a citizen will need to sign the final agreement in person in the country where the bank is located after receiving consent. And these are additional travel expenses that do not always pay off with interest on the deposit.

    The second way is communication through the official representative offices of banks in Russia, of which there are not many in Moscow. These usually do not conduct financial affairs with clients, but help them collect and send a package of documents. For wealthier depositors, appointments are made in Russia to sign an agreement with a bank employee who comes specially from abroad.

    The third method assumes that the potential depositor is a user of the private services of a Russian bank that has connections with partners abroad. For VIP clients, the domestic bank organizes the process of opening a Western account, taking on the organizational side of the issue. But a citizen will be able to sign an agreement only by personally meeting with a representative of a foreign bank. This will happen either on the territory of another state or a bank clerk will come to Russia. As you understand, the service is available only for very wealthy people who are able to place more than a million dollars in a foreign bank.

    There is one more opportunity to open a deposit. If a citizen can entrust his financial affairs to a consulting company, then in Moscow there are several of them specializing in opening accounts for Russians abroad. These usually have established connections with various foreign credit institutions. Therefore, consultants will not only help you choose a country, a bank and acceptable conditions for opening a deposit, but also speed up the process of collecting documents, even help you find a guarantor in the West, if necessary. These services can cost up to 1000 euros, depending on the bank. The territory of the signing of the agreement also depends on him. Some people agree to the postal fax option.

    A citizen of the Russian Federation, after concluding an account agreement, must not forget about compliance with certain rules of the law. The Russian is obliged to notify the tax office within a month of the existence of a bank account abroad. Violation threatens not only with a fine of up to 5,000 rubles, but also with the refusal of the Russian bank to transfer money there. To replenish a foreign deposit is most likely to be done by bank transfer from your account at home. It is unlikely that it will be possible to do this in cash. Moreover, it is impossible to deposit cash in a serious financial institution such as a Swiss bank.

    Foreign banks and contract terms

    We do not undertake to judge why our people open deposits abroad, but most experts agree that it is more for the sake of saving funds than for increasing them. After all, rates in foreign banks are much lower than the interest on deposits in ours. Judge for yourself, the highest rates in our country reach 8 per cent per annum on euro and US dollar accounts in not the largest institutions. Although the amount of interest is very different for different deposits, even in banks from the TOP-20. For example, Promsvyazbank offers deposit products in dollars at 4.2% -7.5%. His colleague Sberbank is already setting 3.4% -4.15% per annum. Considering that it is charged for very large amounts or not in the most rated banks, let us compare these figures with foreign deposit rates:

    Swiss Union Bank of Switzerland and Deutsche Bank - up to 3%,
    Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank Osterreich and Valartis Bank - up to 3%,
    Norwegian Nordea Bank Danmark - up to 4%,
    Cyprus Marfin Bank - up to 4.5%,
    Cypriot Bank of Cyprus - up to 6%,
    Latvian ABLV Bank, AS - up to 6.8%,
    Latvian Rietumu Bank - up to 8%.

    Some large banks charge lower interest rates for non-residents than for the citizens of their country. In the West, the so-called indexed deposits with higher interest rates, which are usually referred to as structured products, are more common in the West. Such deposits involve investing part of the funds in securities.

    If we take into account the expensive rates for opening and maintaining an account (which is almost never found in Russian banks for deposits), that the interest for conversion and cash withdrawal is commensurate with the deposit interest, expensive transfer to another account, then the question of the profitability of a deposit of up to 50 thousand dollars , in our opinion, disappears by itself. Although most of the rating banks do not accept a lower amount from foreigners. In this sense, the exception, perhaps, are offshore and Baltic financial institutions, in which the investment threshold either does not exist at all, or starts from $ 100 / euro.

    Please note that some Russian banks have subsidiaries abroad. But deposit rates at the same Cyprus branch of Promsvyazbank are much lower than in Russia. Although, it is much easier to open a deposit for a Russian in this institution. Note that it is almost impossible for a citizen of the Russian Federation to open a bank account in the UK without permanently residing in this country.

    As for the deposit insurance system, let us say that in the EU countries it exists similarly to ours. But each state has its own insurance amount and the procedure for its payment in the event of an insured event.